Real Madrid's Raul Asencio acquitted in explicit video case

A court in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, has acquitted Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio, 23, of allegations that he was involved in distributing a sexually explicit video featuring a minor. Charges against him were withdrawn.

The case centred on the recording and spreading of an explicit video following an intimate encounter at a beach club in Gran Canaria in June 2023. The victims were two women, aged 16 and 18 at the time.

Three of Asencio's former teammates from the Real Madrid academy were convicted of "child pornography" offences and given one-year suspended prison sentences, along with a requirement to complete a sexual "re-education" course. They also received a two-year restraining order barring contact with the victims and a three-year ban from working in professions involving minors. The court handed down minimum sentences after the victims chose to forgive the men.

In a statement, Asencio said that after a long period of silence and trust in the judicial process, he could now confirm he had been cleared, adding that the past months had been difficult as information and opinions about him circulated before the case was resolved.

Separate drink-driving case

Separately, Real Madrid have opened disciplinary proceedings against Asencio over a drink-driving conviction, also linked to an incident in Gran Canaria. On 16 August, he was found to be more than three times over the legal alcohol limit, resulting in a fine and an eight-month suspension of his driving licence.

Manager Jose Mourinho said he was not happy about the situation, noting that a player's conduct off the pitch still reflects on the club's reputation, though he praised Asencio's work ethic and dedication to recovering from a recent injury. Asencio apologised for the drink-driving incident, accepted full responsibility, and said he wanted to move forward with respect both on and off the pitch.